But, I’d expand social commerce to be a bit more broad. You see, I agree mobile commerce is the next big thing – and a critical opportunity businesses can’t ignore.

The question is: How can a small business owner actually cut through all the noise and reach today’s “always on, always connected” customer?

At Zaarly, we’ve interviewed hundreds of small business owners. Based on their feedback, coupled with our own discoveries, we’ve found there are six ways business owners can “go mobile” without going broke.

1. “Own” your online business profile and location.

A consumer searching for a jewelry store on his/her smartphone will see the nearest jewelry stores relative to the GPS-enabled device in their hand. Meaning, you need to register your physical location with all the key sites.

Mobile searches have grown 400 percent since 2010, according to Google. Once they find you on their phone, consumers visit (59 percent) or call (61 percent).

What does this mean for your business? Your site has to be optimized for mobile viewing. Be sure you can be found (turns out that Google and other search engines may not show non-mobile optimized sites in mobile search results). If your website was created more than a few years ago, has plugins such as Flash, or just hasn’t been updated (let’s hope you don’t have the flashing Geocities style site!), you are at risk.

Search for your site on a variety of mobile phones and operating systems to see how the site shows up (or if it even does show up).

There are many new and reasonably priced tools to help make your site mobile-optimized, but before you plunk down any money, check out Google’s “GoMo” site, which features a handy testing tool, as well as other resources to help businesses improve their websites.

Cost: Free

3. Accept coupons right from the phone.

Have you ever been in line at a store and seen a store clerk refuse to honor a coupon the consumer has opened from an email or website right on their mobile phone? If your employees claim “No, you need to print that before I can accept it,” that is a is a surefire way to annoy customers.

Couponing is an incredibly popular way for small businesses to get new visitors, but aren’t we past the days of “clipping coupons?” Today’s tech-savvy consumers would simply prefer to pull up an email or webpage and show the coupon to get the discount. Customers will appreciate you’re mobile-friendly, and you’ll avoid awkward confrontations. (Please, don’t be that business.)

Cost: Free (other than the cost of your coupons)

4. Do a “review” check-up.

Sites from Yelp, Angie’s List, Open Table, Google, and dozens more are letting your customers review you (often without your knowledge). Are you aware 81 percent of consumers say they read reviews before making a purchase and 51 percent of consumers say they use the Internet IN SHOPS before making a purchase? If you have a bevy of negative reviews or poor feedback on the sites they are browsing, that consumer may decide to shop, eat, drink, or pay elsewhere.

The first step to keeping tabs on your reviews is to set a Google Alert for the name of your business (it’s worth doing common misspellings too). Watch for any reviews, postings, or other news that you might need to address. Find out the review-focused sites people use regularly to review your business, such as Google Places, Yelp, and Angie’s List. For a more detailed tracking service, try Reputation.com for business, which monitors and provides real-time feedback.

Quick, how much cash do you have in your wallet? Enough to buy something that’s more than $100? Over $50? Over $20? People are becoming more reliant on credit cards for all of their transactions – especially when they are on-the-go. Rather than force someone to run to the nearest ATM (and pay the annoying fees for withdrawing from a non-bank ATM), consider taking payment right on your mobile device.

It’s easier than you thought these days. Services such as Square, Stripe, or Intuit GoPayment provide a device that plugs into most smart phones to take credit cards on the spot. New technologies are in development to allow you to pay without needing any hardware at all.

Cost: Free (other than the credit card processing fees)

6. Text your way to your customer’s heart.

According to the Pew Foundation, 73 percent of cell phone users are texting and 44 percent of Americans have opted into at least one text messaging marketing campaign. So, why not share deals, information, and updates with your customers via SMS?

Going Mobile Without Busting the Bank

Customers aren’t just browsing the mobile web. They’re researching products, sharing opinions about companies, and completing transactions. Forward-thinking companies know that going mobile is good for business – without having to spend a fortune to do it.

How are you as a business embracing mobile? As a consumer, how do you see mobile influencing commerce going forward? The comments are yours …

Being a mobile maven this is a great primer for businesses. I bring up often how many businesses have QR codes that take me to a non-mobile formatted site. Or a worthless site. Mobile is a niche. Surfing the net sucks on Mobile. Regular online line shopping sucks compared to in the store in terms of time it takes to view the same volume of merchandise. Well on mobile it sucks compared to online. Businesses need to know this so that I can get what I need quickly via my phone.

As for social commerce there is no such thing. It is called commerce. If @ginidietrich uses that term outside of using Facebook credits to buy a Farmville crop let me know. Recently there was a big hoopla with all the big brands closing their Facebook storefronts (I called this one 9 months back) which the called F-Commerce. If it is a shop and I can buy things vs barter with virtual goods it is Commerce or E-Commerce. Doesn't matter what site I am on. Same for mobile. Platform or location means nothing. And using a phone to make purchases is great as long as it is quick and easy and secure 8)

Great post. I just signed up for Square and have received my little card swipy thingy (Note: That is the scientific term). I haven't taken my first payment for one of my books on it yet, but I like knowing that I can!

I need to work on my site and I wouldn't have thought about the mobile aspect, that tip is worth its weight in bacon.